James’ Maple Balsamic Salad Dressing

My brother’s been going to UBC Farm‘s Farm Wonders program since early April, every other week. UBC Farm is the only organic farm in the city of Vancouver, B.C. and is entirely student-run. It has been a lot of fun for all of us, as we learn about the plants and their growing cycles, insects that are helpful and harmful to the plants, etc.

Last week we harvested lettuce for salad. I have both read and heard that lettuce is very easy to grow and grows quickly, but I genuinely had no idea before just how quickly. I was amazed.

Bread was also made, and although it wasn’t gluten-free it was still fun – the wheat is freshly milled and ground into flour, so all the better. Later we also went to visit the free range chickens (a controlled study, so feeding the chickens wasn’t allowed) and collected seven eggs; the eggs are sold at their farmer’s market and when they have their children’s summer camp, the eggs are used for cooking and baking by the children.

One of the boys, James, in my brother’s gardening class made a wonderful, magnificent salad dressing for the harvested lettuce, freshly picked from the garden. This was what was left of the dressing.

We also thought it would be a lovely marinade for chicken or pork. It was so good that we had to ask what he used to make the dressing and if it would be okay to share his creation here, which he said yes to – thank you, James!

See more photos of UBC Farm after the recipe!

James’ Maple Balsamic Salad Dressing

There weren’t any measurements, so make it with the amounts suited to your liking. As mentioned, this dressing would also make an excellent marinade for chicken or pork, or even seafood such as prawns.

Maple syrup
Mustard
Balsamic vinegar
Olive oil
Salt and pepper

Add all the ingredients one at a time, adding a little at a time, and tweak to taste until suited to your liking. Drizzle over prepared salad and enjoy!

This dressing sounds wonderful! I make a basic balsamic dressing, but sweeten it with a little brown sugar. I’ll have to try the addition of mustard and sweetening with maple syrup soon. I enjoyed looking at your pictures too🙂

I love the ingredients in this dressing. I have made one slightly similar that also has chopped shallots in it as well. I just love your photos of the garden. Absolutely beautiful!! Thanks for sharing with us!

What beautiful pictures Zoe. This sounds like such a cool program! Oh how I heart Vancouver🙂 My Mom makes a salad dressing with the exact same ingredients! And she uses it to marinade veggies, tofu, chicken etc.. So yummy!